A Review of the Prostatic Urethral Lift for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Symptom Relief, Flow Improvement, and Preservation of Sexual Function in Men With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Prostatic urethral lift (PUL) has been shown to be a safe, effective treatment option for lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Discomfort with PUL is similar to that with rigid cystoscopy and can be tolerated with local anesthesia in an office setting. Of those who are given voiding trials, 70–80 % of subjects do not require a catheter. Subjects often quickly return to pre-operative activity level with minimal absence from work. Symptom relief can start within 2 weeks and be sustained through 2 years. Urinary flow rate improvements have been shown to be durable through 2 years. The most common adverse effects are dysuria, hematuria, pain, and urgency which are typically mild to moderate and transient. Sexual function appears to be preserved after PUL with no reported new-onset erectile dysfunction or anejaculation events. The retreatment rate is reported to be 7.5 % at 2 years.